Had to Miss Our 5K/10K? We've Got You Covered!For $29, Participate in our virtual run through Oct.31, 2016, to receive our race shirt, medal, bib, a bonus gift and free shipping! Kids' run package is also available with kid's tee, race bib and finisher's ribbon. Offer good while supplies last, so sign up today!

“Running teaches us to keep moving forward, one step at a time,​especially in the most painful moments.” --Author Unknown

Our August KIND Most Inspiring Member is Chevis of Waconia (MN) Moms on the Run, who was named Most Inspiring Member of the Year at our annual celebration banquet on Aug. 26.

Chevis has inspired so many with her strength and perseverance in 2016, but it has come from such deep sadness.

In June, her 9-year-old son Daniel was at a pool party enjoying a birthday party when he was suddenly found unconscious in the shallow end of the pool. He was rushed to the hospital and after two days of hoping and praying for a miracle, Daniel passed away. His body was strong and resilient, but his brain had no activity.

“Just the week prior I was running alongside Chevis and she was telling me all about the family trip they had planned the next week,” said Waconia head coach Deb Lensing. “She was living a life just like the rest of our Moms on the Run -- planning vacations and enjoying the summer. But when Chevis lost her son, we all felt her pain, as losing a child is every mother’s worst nightmare."​Lensing and the other Waconia MOTR teammates decided to dedicate a weeknight workout to Chevis by wearing green (Daniel’s favorite color) and sharing their photos in social media with the hashtags #MOTRstrong and #Run4Daniel. Next up was a local Fourth of July race, where the team again dressed in green and dedicated the miles to #Run4Daniel. Much to the surprise of Lensing and her team, Chevis and her husband, Dan, showed up in green to also run the race.

“This was just one week after the loss of their son,” Lensing added.

Chevis continued to inspire her teammates as well as other Moms on the Run locations by showing up for weekly workouts. She also kept her commitment to run the Ragnar Great River Relay, painting her toes green and inspiring everyone on her team to run through the night and fight the fatigue, hills, heat and humidity. The team crossed the finish line together, while keeping #Run4Daniel and #MOTRstrong top of mind.

Thank you, Chevis! You -- and through you, Daniel -- are true inspirations!

ABOUT KIND: Since its founding in 2004, KIND has been on a mission to make the world a little kinder one snack and one act at a time. #LiveKIND and do the right thing for your body, your taste buds & your world.™

We have a few exciting new items for fall, and will offer limited-time incentives in order to help us order the right quantity and sizes. These introductory prices are good through Noon CT on Aug. 11, 2016. ​Place your orders here!

Cozy Performance Jacket by Sport Tek$59 with Code early6 by 8/11(then price jumps to $65)An excellent choice for style and comfort this fall! Available in sizes XS-4X (see sizing chart, below). This moisture wicking tech performance fleece with thumbholes is soft on the inside and has a snag-resistant and pill-resistant matte finish. The 100% polyester jacket is black, gray and white and comes "fully loaded" with thumbholes, media pocket with headphone exit port, headphone holding loops at the neck, a three-panel hood with drawcord and toggles, and front pockets integrated into the princess seams of this contoured silhouette.

Mommy's Running Buddy Onesie$12 by 8/11; Discounts for multiples (then price jumps to to $14.50 each)It's about time we outfit our stroller buddies! This heather gray unisex onesie features a purple, green and black print and is available in sizes 0-24 months. Note this item may experience minor shrinkage during the printing process.

There’s strong. And there’s #MOTRstrong, when running with other women gives you a leg up on the rest. It's that special "awesomesauce" that powers you through the next training run or race, or helps you along other life challenges in your path. ​This year Moms on the Run has challenged you to share what makes you feel connected, confident and STRONG through the 2016 #MOTRstrong Instagram Contest. Special thanks to sponsor Wellwomen Thrive for help rewarding our July prize winner.

July 2016 Prize Winner:
Sarah Colao of PortageMomsontheRun
Congrats to Sarah (front, center), who wins a Free Four-Week Coaching Wellness Session from Wellwomen Thrive ($300 value)! Here are a few more of Sarah’s pics tagged with #MOTRstrong:

A photo posted by Portage Moms on the Run (@portagemomsontherun) on Jun 30, 2016 at 8:36am PDT

​Ready to Join the Fun? #MOTRstrong Instagram Contest Review

Get your photos up between now and August 31 to be considered for the next prize. Winners are based on number of photos, number of categories and staff vote.

Remember to use the tags #MomsOnTheRun and #MOTRstrong along with the category you're entering each photo: #BestScenery, #LoveMyTeam, #Unstoppable or #MOTRselfie. More details on rules and prizeshere.

August #MOTRstrong PrizeWomen Run Together: 2 free registrations to the 10th annualWomen Run the Cities(choose from 10-Mile Run; 10K Run 5K Run or Walk) and 2 WRTC 10th anniversary t-shirts. Winner may invite a friend or family member to run with her (a $165 value). We will highlight monthly winners on ourFacebook page.

Not on Instagram?​Not a problem. You can still join the conversation for FUN on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest when you use the contest hashtags.

The Second Annual Moms on the Run 5K/10K/Kids Run is looking for volunteers for race day (Aug. 28) and the day before (Aug. 27)! Help us make this wonderful event a success.

Click on the green button below to choose from a variety of volunteer opportunities including setup/teardown, water stations, face painters, course marshals and more. You're welcome to sign up for multiple shifts as long as the time slots don’t overlap.

We could not pull off this race without the help of our amazing volunteers. Thanks in advance!

Stacy (front row, second from right) with her MOTR teammates at Women Run The Cities in September 2015.

"This program has completely changed my life," Stacy Reichert of Ham Lake, Minn., recently told her local newspaper about Moms on the Run.

How did she go from hating running to completing four half marathons, three Ragnar relays, and the 2016 Grandma’s Marathon? It took plenty of hard work and determination on her part, mixed with what's been described as the “awesomesauce” found in Moms on the Run: built-in accountability and the support of other local women.

3 Tips To Help You Embrace HillsBy Jennifer Fink, Moms on the Run coach

"Don’t waste the downhill!" This was my mantra for the first five years of my running career. The women I coach through Moms on the Run heard my chant on every downhill. I would proudly proclaim that I could walk up the hill and more than make up the time by burning the downhill.

I still love the downhill, and will continue to share and preach my affection for the exhilaration of the ride. But toward the end of last year, my perspective changed. This quote seemed to sum it up perfectly:

"Most of us try to avoid hills, but what is so good about that? Think about it. Flat tires, flat hair, flat returns, and the ultimate, flatlining. LIFE HAPPENS ON THE HILLS. They’re an opportunity to prove to yourself that you are stronger than you ever imagined. If you never attempt the ascent, you’ll never know the thrill of swooshing down the other side. Be a hill seeker." (author unknown)

Whether it is in life, or on a run, hills don’t go away. They wait for you. So, how can you use them to become stronger and more confident?

Here are my tips to help you embrace hills:

Practice, Practice, Practice.A few times a week, make space in your workouts for uphill repeats. You choose the gradient and pace. Push slowly up, walk at the top if needed, run the downhill -- and repeat. Slowly increase the number of repeats as you become stronger. Eventually, your glutes will start to recognize the uphill, while your quads and calves do the same with the downhill. Practice both so that when in a race, your muscles draw from kinetic memory.

Visualize Your SuccessImagine a big balloon at your back, pushing you up the hill. Or envision a cable, pulling you upward. See yourself run through, to the top of the hill, with ease. With enough practice, you will start to “see” your success. Research indicates that mental rehearsal is almost as effective as physical practice, and that doing both is more effective than practicing either alone. Seeing really is believing!

Check Your Speed.Like a roller coaster ride, part of the enjoyment and thrill of the downhill is built during the measured ascent to the top. Apply the same approach in running hills. Expect to start slower on your way up and increase your speed on the downhill. Use this technique to conserve your power. It will keep you from burning out during your ascent, saving energy for the thrill on the other side.

​​Remember, you get to choose your success, whether that’s pace, effort, exertion or another factor. Hills are an opportunity to prove to yourself that you are stronger than you ever imagined.

What would you do if you realized you were strong enough to do it?

Looking for a supportive, all-women's environment to help prepare for your next fitness goal? Check out Moms on the Run to find the location nearest you.

Jennifer Fink is a coach with two Moms on the Run locations in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area, White Bear Lake and Shoreview. Since she first started the program six years ago, she has shed 40 pounds and become the Queen of Motivation. She has run 5Ks, 10Ks, half marathons, six Ragnar Relays and the 2015 Twin Cities Marathon.